in St. Petersburg, “lessons of courage” are taught to children by neo-Nazis

In St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, hundreds of children from boarding schools, special schools, and schools went through military training classes called “courage lessons” and “weekend classes.” Their organizers are people who do not hide neo-Nazi views, according to an investigation by The Insider.

The classes are conducted by members of the far-right North Slavic community of St. Petersburg and the autonomous non-profit organization “Center for Special Patriotic Sports Training “Dobrovolets”. created by Roman Zentsov under the nickname “Russian Hammer”.

Both Savinsky and Zemtsov oversee training programs for children, during which they are taught, in particular, how to handle weapons. According to The Insider, two neo-Nazis and participants in the armed invasion of Ukraine – Vladimir Bakin nicknamed “Ulfer” and Mikhail Turkanov nicknamed “Pitbull” – directly teach children. The second served a prison term from 2012 to 2017 for kidnapping and extortion.

In the investigation of The Insider, it is also said that several teachers of “courage lessons” are connected with the “Rusych” detachment fighting on the territory of Ukraine. The command of this detachment does not hide its adherence to Nazi ideology.

Separately, it is noted that they conduct their activities in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region with the official approval of local authorities – in particular, Governor Alexander Beglov.